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SBA Releases Regional Innovation Cluster solicitation
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced a new funding opportunity through the Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Program. The program is designed to enable new RICs to assist small businesses in matching innovative technologies to industry needs, with the aim of reshoring critical industrial and manufacturing capabilities, securing domestic supply chains, and spurring job creation.
SBA is interested in competitive offers from organizations with relevant partnerships and small business expertise in critical industries, including:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Critical Minerals
- Nuclear Energy (Microreactors)
- Disruptive Technology
- Quantum Information and Enabling Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Information Technology (cybersecurity, cyber operations, data storage, etc.)
- Semiconductors
The RIC solicitation is now open and will close on August 8, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. EDT. The solicitation can be found on SAM.gov by searching "Regional Innovation Clusters." The full solicitation link is here.
You can submit questions related to the solicitation through July 28, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. to sba_ric_2025@sba.gov. All answers will be posted publicly on the solicitation page on SAM.gov.
To learn more about the RIC Program, including current RICs, click here.